The Difference Between a Stroke and a Heart Attack.

Either medical event can be life threatening,

but do you know the difference between a stroke and a heart attack?

One of the easiest ways to differentiate between the two is a stroke, infarction  or “brain attack”  involves damage to the brain and a heat attack or myocardial infarction, involves damage to the heart.

Both can vary in severity and both are caused by either a blockage, caused by a clot, a narrowing of the artery or tear causing  disruption in blood flow.

Knowing the difference between a stroke and a heart attack can save a life.

The National Stroke Association defines a stroke as “a sudden disruption of the blood supply to a part of the brain, which, in turn, disrupts the body function controlled by that brain area”.

Further explanation of the difference between a stroke and a heart attack begins with:

A stroke is caused by a blockage,  a blood clot that dislodges or developing blockage in an artery restricting blood flowing from the heart to the brain. When the blockage occurs, brain cells are deprived of the oxygen they need, start to die and brain damage occurs.

During a stroke, depending on which areas of the brain are effected, certain abilities, such as speech, memory and movement are lost.

If someone has what is referred to as a “minor stroke”, where the obstruction was minimal or medical intervention is swift, symptoms may be limited to weakness or a

temporary loss of speech, movement or memory. In these cases, often the impairments may resolve. If the stroke is more severe and brain cell loss has been severe,
the impairment maybe permanent.

Further explanation of the difference between a stroke and a heart attack continues with:

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when the heart stops (cardiac arrest) beating, again possibly caused by a swift blockage due to blood clot or tear. A heart attack causes the flow of oxygen rich blood to the body’s vital organs to stop and Within minutes the cells in the vital organs, like the brain, will begin to die.

A mild heart attack is when the disruption of blood flow to the heart is minimal or caused by a partial blockage, intermittent or again, medical intervention has been swift.

Even if you don’t believe you can tell the difference between a stroke and a heart attack when it comes right down to it, they are both a medical emergency and the time frame in which you respond is critical! A persons chances of survival will increase the faster the person receives medical care. The time between onset of symptoms for either a heart attack or stroke and getting to an emergency room should be no longer than 45 minutes. Often referred to as the “golden hour”, this is when medical intervention will be most effective.

However, the difference between a stroke and a heart attack symptoms may seem  similar. Both can happen without much warning. Often the person having symptoms thinks it is something else like indigestion or a pinched nerve. The danger is when the symptoms are brushed aside or treated as another ailment.

Know the difference between a stroke and a heart attack, but similarities include:

• Both are caused by blockage to an artery

• Both can vary in degree from minor to fatal

• Both can happen without any warning

The bottom line is get help as quick as you can even if you aren’t sure the difference between a stroke and a heart attack. Call 911

The difference between a stroke and a heart attack may seem confusing, but the way you respond to it can save a life.